ESP Guitars: History of ESP Guitars
Electric Sound Products (ESP) Company was created in the year 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya, a resident as well as a businessman from Tokyo, Japan. Shibuya started as a manufacturer and a producer for the replacement parts of guitars. This firm was very well known for the high-quality parts. After a year of gaining such reputation, ESP started to engage with the designing and creation of guitars. ESP entered the Japanese market, later expanded and took their chances into the global market of guitar industry. Entering the US market in the year 1983, ESP Company started designing for local artists in New York from 1984 to 1985 where they had already introduced about 400 Series as their primary introduction of products in the US market.
Among the local artists were Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, Page Hamilton of Helmet, Bruce Kulick of KISS, Vernon Reid of Living Colour and Vinnie Vincent. Creating and producing guitars for these artists was there effective way of becoming more popular with bands from other countries. At the same time, ESP Company also started to make the necks and bodies of Kramer. During a tour in Tokyo in the year 1986, George Lynch found out about ESP guitars when he walked into one of the shops, looked around for a replacement part and later, he found out that ESP Company is able to customize guitars. Read more
Guitar Giveaways: Win an ESP BMF M-III Bushido Makoto Guitar
December 28, 2011 by Chaz · Leave a Comment
Enter for your chance to win an ESP BMF M-III Bushido Makoto guitar (valued at $3,500). The BMF M-III Bushido Makoto guitar is one of a short run of custom models, exclusive to Bmusic.co.au, and is extremely rare. Only six ESP BMF M-III Bushido Makoto guitars were constructed, never to be produced ever again. Better hurry, this offer ends December 31st, 2011. Read more
Ampeg GVT Amps, ESP 7 and 8 String Guitars Introduced
August 18, 2011 by Chaz · Leave a Comment
NAMM’s Summer Show is officially in the books, giving wholesalers and musicians a whole new list of the stuff that dreams are made of, including a new lineup of 7- and 8-string guitars from ESP, as well as another Asian Invasion, the new GVT Series amplifier line from an expatriate veteran, Ampeg. Read more
ESP LTD FX-260 Guitar Hands-On Review
April 24, 2010 by G-v Rover · Leave a Comment
LTD FX-260 Explorer-style axe hands-on review–the LTD FX-260 guitar feels like a weapon caressed to your body while playing. With its woodsy look, it might even spark a flashback to the days of Thai sticks, bell-bottom flares and chicks named Ivy and Moonpuppy. The natural grain and warm brown hue of the guitar’s spalted maple top and mahogany body kinda remind me of guitars produced in Canada when Elisha Cuthbert was still somewhat a virgin, but with its pointy, beveled Explorer-style body shape, black nickel hardware and EMG-ESP LH-300 pickups offer enough modern attraction to make metalheads give it the two-fingered devil-horn “I wanna rock” salute. Read more
ESP LTD Guitars of 2010 – ESP/LTD Rocks!
January 16, 2010 by Mike O'Cull · Leave a Comment
ESP is one of the O.G. Asian guitar companies and has a long reputation for producing excellent instruments. Even I, your ever-loving Gear-Vault correspondent who is dangerously obsessed with all things Fender, played a cool pink ESP Mirage Custom back in the 80’s and still longs for it at times. These days, ESP is producing a lot fewer pink axes and a lot more that suit the trends of the current guitar market. Read more
ESP LTD H-300 Guitar Review
August 24, 2009 by Chaz · Leave a Comment
ESP was one of the first large shops to cater to the “Super Strat” customer. By focusing on the features most beloved by headbangers and setting fire to “vintage values,” they quickly established themselves as a first-class custom shop with the ability to translate the needs of heavy metal-influenced players into solid, yet glitzy instruments. Read more
ESP Guitars – Eclipse-II Vibrato & Eclipse-II FR
ESP Guitars is proud to announced 12 new models to be released this fall 2009. The new Standard Series models include some juicy updates to the Eclipse, EX, and V lines, plus two new 7-string guitars and a whole new body style for ESP: the Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models.
Eclipse-II Vibrato & Eclipse-II FR
ESP joins the vibrato renaissance with Bigsby and Floyd-Rose-equipped Eclipse models. ESP describe the Eclipse-II Vibrato as, “everything you want in a classic rock guitar,” while the Eclipse-II FR is loaded with active EMGs and a Floyd Rose Tremolo system for the hardcore modern rock player.
Eclipse-II Vibrato
Specs:
- Set Neck
- 24.75” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Top
- Mahogany Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Gold Hardware
- Gotoh Magnum Lock Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge
- Bigsby B7 Vibrato
- Seymour Duncan JB (B) / 59 (N) p.u.
- Finish: VB
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Eclipse-II FR
Specs:
- Set Neck
- 24.75” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Top
- Mahogany Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 42mm Locking nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Gotoh Deluxe Tuners
- Floyd Rose Original Bridge
- EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
- Finish: BLK
ESP Guitars – Horizon NT-7 & Viper-7
June 12, 2009 by Chaz · Leave a Comment
ESP Guitars is proud to announced 12 new models to be released this fall 2009. The new Standard Series models include some juicy updates to the Eclipse, EX, and V lines, plus two new 7-string guitars and a whole new body style for ESP: the Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models.
Horizon NT-7 & Viper-7
ESP’s newest additions to their seven-string line come in the form of the Horizon NT-7, which boast neck-thru-body construction and EMG 707 pickups. The Viper-7 features a mahogany body and neck, also loaded up with EMG pickups.
Horizon NT-7
Specs:
- Neck-Thru-Body
- 25.5” Scale
- Alder Body
- Maple Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 45mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 24 XJ Frets
- Chrome Hardware
- Gotoh TOM Bridge
- EMG 707 (B) / 707 (N) p.u.
- Finish: BLK
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Viper-7
Specs:
- Set-Thru
- 25.5” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Mahogany Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 24 XJ Frets
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Gotoh Magnum Lock Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
- EMG 81 (B) / 85 (N) Active
- Finish: BLK Satin
ESP Guitars – Phoenix-II & Phoenix-II Bass
June 12, 2009 by Chaz · 2 Comments
ESP Guitars is proud to announced 12 new models to be released this fall 2009. The new Standard Series models include some juicy updates to the Eclipse, EX, and V lines, plus two new 7-string guitars and a whole new body style for ESP: the Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models.
Phoenix-II & Phoenix-II Bass
Here’s something you don’t get everyday: a new ESP shape. Introducing the Phoenix-II, which is available in both bass and guitar forms. This instrument screams coolness, and is available in two finishes for both the guitar and the bass. You can get the Phoenix-II guitar in black w/white pickguard or white with black pickguard. Despite its classic styling, this is a high performance ESP, with a neck-through-body design, maple neck with ebony fingerboard, 22 XJ frets and Seymour Duncan JB and 59 pickups.
The Phoenix-II bass has a very cool vibe and also uses a neck thru design. EMG active pickups complete this sweet bass, which comes in a black or two tone sunburst finish.
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Phoenix-II
Spec:
- Neck-Thru-Body
- 25.5” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Neck
- Ebony Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Chrome Hardware
- Gotoh Magnum Lock Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
- Seymour Duncan JB (B) / ’59 (N) p.u.
- Finish: SW, BLK
Phoenix-II Bass
Spec:
- Neck-thru Body
- 34” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 40mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 21 XJ Frets
- Chrome Hardware
- Gotoh Tuners
- ESP Bridge
- EMG 35DC (B) / 35DC (N) p.u.
- Finish: 2TB, BLK
ESP Guitars – EX, EX Diamond Plate & FX
June 12, 2009 by Chaz · 2 Comments
ESP Guitars is proud to announced 12 new models to be released this fall 2009. The new Standard Series models include some juicy updates to the Eclipse, EX, and V lines, plus two new 7-string guitars and a whole new body style for ESP: the Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models. p://gear-vault.com/esp-guitars-phoenix-ii-phoenix-ii-bass” title=”ESP Guitars Phoenix-II & Bass” rel=”dofollow”>Phoenix-II. Click the hyperlink to view pictures and the specs of each new Standard Series ESP guitar models.
EX, EX Diamond Plate & FX
The ESP EX/EXP models have been the source of some great music in the past. Down through its development, this model has been the favorite of many great players including James Hetfield of Metallica. Well it’s time to bring the EX back into the ESP family! The new ESP EX comes in the classic 24.75” scale and features a mahogany body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard and EMG 81 and 60 pickups. Black nickel Gotoh tuners and bridge look sweet on the black finish.
Now, take that same guitar, beef it up with an anodized aluminum diamondplate body shield and you have the EX Diamond Plate! This guitar is so metal, it’s actually made from metal…at least the top, anyway.
If you’re into the EX shape and a natural finish, check out the ESP FX. It’s a natural mahogany-finished guitar in the EX body style, with the headstock shape from our F series. It features Sperzel locking tuners, a Gotoh bridge, and those amazing EMG 81/60 active pickups.
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EX
Spec:
- Set-Neck
- 24.75” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Gotoh Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
- EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
- Finish: SW, BLK
EX Diamond Plate
Spec:
- Set-Neck
- 24.75” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Maple Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Gotoh Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
- EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
- Finish: BLK w/Diamond Plate
FX
Spec:
- Set-Neck
- 24.75” Scale
- Mahogany Body
- Mahogany Neck
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 42mm Bone Nut
- Thin U Neck Contour
- 22 XJ Frets
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Sperzel Locking Tuners
- Gotoh TOM Bridge & Tail
- EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active p.u.
- Finish: PBS (Padauk Brown Satin)
